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Outcomes following laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in infants compared with older children

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Abstract

Purpose

Indications for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in infants and children remain controversial. The purpose of this study is to compare clinical features and outcome of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in infants with older children.

Methods

Retrospective single centre review of all patients <16 years of age (n = 380) undergoing laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair over a 5-year period (Jan 2005–Dec 2009). Outcomes were compared between infants (≤12 months of age) with older children (1–15 years).

Results

There was a trend towards higher recurrence rate in older children than in infants (4 % vs. 1 %; p = 0.17). Total complications and complications requiring surgery were similar in both age groups. There was one testicular atrophy in an infant who had an incarcerated inguinal hernia. The incidence of bilateral inguinal hernia and contralateral patent processus vaginalis (PPV) were both significantly higher in infants (total 61 % compared with 35 % in older children).

Conclusions

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in infants is safe and carries acceptable complication and recurrence rates. The laparoscopic approach may be particularly beneficial in infants since it allows simultaneous closure of a contralateral PPV and bilateral herniae. The outcome of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in older children requires further evaluation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Surgery Unit, Department of Paediatric Surgery, UCL Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK

    Wonyong Choi, Nigel J. Hall, Massimo Garriboli, Ori Ron, Simon Eaton, Paolo De Coppi & Agostino Pierro

  2. Paediatric Surgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK

    Nigel J. Hall, Joseph I. Curry, Kate Cross, David P. Drake, Edward M. Kiely, Paolo De Coppi & Agostino Pierro

Authors
  1. Wonyong Choi
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  2. Nigel J. Hall
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  3. Massimo Garriboli
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  4. Ori Ron
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  5. Joseph I. Curry
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  6. Kate Cross
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  7. David P. Drake
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  8. Edward M. Kiely
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  9. Simon Eaton
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  10. Paolo De Coppi
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  11. Agostino Pierro
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nigel J. Hall.

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Choi, W., Hall, N.J., Garriboli, M. et al. Outcomes following laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in infants compared with older children. Pediatr Surg Int 28, 1165–1169 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-012-3188-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-012-3188-1

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